The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Laurence William Abbott, Jr. (NSN: 0-104011), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a carrier based Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIFTY (VF-50), on 14 July 1945. As leader of a division of three aircraft, in the Muroran, Hokkaido area on that date, he led the flight, under extremely hazardous weather conditions, in a successful bombing and strafing attack on an enemy destroyer. Despite severe anti-aircraft opposition, he pressed the assault, making repeated runs at low altitude until all ammunition was expended and the warship so damaged as to render it useless to the enemy. His leadership and courageous determination on this occasion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.